Squier

Squier serials span Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Mexican production. The factory prefix is the key indicator. Several formats share Fender's original decade-prefix (MN, MZ, E, N) conventions — a Squier-brand serial starting with MN still decodes the year via the single digit after the prefix.

Sources 1 Reference 2 Communitys view all

Decode a Squier serial

Quick pick

Find your shape, jump to the format

ICS + 8 digits ICS — Indonesia Cort primary e.g. ICS19123456 2009+
CGS + 7 digits CGS — China Guangzhou (Classic Vibe) primary e.g. CGS0912345 2009+
ISS + 8 digits ISS — Indonesia Samick e.g. ISS21123456 Varies
CN + 8 digits CN — China Cor-Tek e.g. CN12123456 Varies
CY + 8 digits CY — China CW e.g. CY11123456 Varies
IC + 8 digits IC — Indonesia Cort (shorter prefix) e.g. IC12123456 Varies
SI + 8 digits SI — Indonesia Samick e.g. SI04123456 Varies
KC + 8 digits KC — Korea Cor-Tek e.g. KC15123456 Varies
KV + 8 digits KV — Korea Saehan/Sunghan e.g. KV99123456 Varies
VN + 8 digits VN — Vietnam e.g. VN05123456 Varies
MN + 7 digits MN — Mexico (1990s, single-digit year) e.g. MN4123456 1990s
MZ + 7 digits MZ — Mexico (2000s, single-digit year) e.g. MZ5123456 2000s
E + 7 digits E — USA (1980s) e.g. E4123456 1982–1989
N + 7 digits N — USA (1990s) e.g. N4123456 1990s

Supported formats

Indonesia

ICS — Indonesia Cort

2009+

Example ICS19123456 Try it →

ICS + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence.

3 less common variants

ISS — Indonesia Samick

Varies

Example ISS21123456 Try it →

ISS + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence.

IC — Indonesia Cort (shorter prefix)

Varies

Example IC12123456 Try it →

IC + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence (older Squier Indonesia).

SI — Indonesia Samick

Varies

Example SI04123456 Try it →

SI + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence. Samick's Indonesian plant; same year-prefix layout as the ICS/ISS Indonesian codes.

China

CGS — China Guangzhou (Classic Vibe)

2009+

Example CGS0912345 Try it →

CGS + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence. Predominantly Classic Vibe models.

2 less common variants

CN — China Cor-Tek

Varies

Example CN12123456 Try it →

CN + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence.

CY — China CW

Varies

Example CY11123456 Try it →

CY + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence.

Korea

2 less common variants

KC — Korea Cor-Tek

Varies

Example KC15123456 Try it →

KC + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence. Korean Cor-Tek (Cort) production.

KV — Korea Saehan/Sunghan

Varies

Example KV99123456 Try it →

KV + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence. Korean Saehan/Sunghan factory.

Vietnam

1 less common variant

VN — Vietnam

Varies

Example VN05123456 Try it →

VN + 2-digit year + 4-6 digit sequence. Vietnamese production.

Mexico (Fender-shared)

2 less common variants

MN — Mexico (1990s, single-digit year)

1990s

Example MN4123456 Try it →

MN + single-digit year (0=1990, 1=1991, …, 9=1999) + 4-6 sequential. Shared with Fender Mexico.

MZ — Mexico (2000s, single-digit year)

2000s

Example MZ5123456 Try it →

MZ + single-digit year (0=2000 … 9=2009) + 4-6 sequential. Shared with Fender Mexico.

USA (vintage)

2 less common variants

E — USA (1980s)

1982–1989

Example E4123456 Try it →

E + single-digit year + 4-5 sequential. Early Squier USA production.

N — USA (1990s)

1990s

Example N4123456 Try it →

N + single-digit year + 4-5 sequential.

Where to find your serial

Squier serial locations follow the same conventions as the equivalent Fender production — back of the headstock (decade-prefix and modern), neckplate (older USA).

Back of headstock

Standard for ICS, ISS, CGS, CN, CY, IC Indonesian/Chinese production.
Neckplate

Some older USA / Japan production carries the serial on the metal neckplate.

Sources

Squier Wiki — Serial Number Tracking Community

Long-standing community reference documenting every Squier factory prefix and year-encoding convention.
Killerrig — Squier Factory Codes Community

Dealer-compiled lookup covering ICS, ISS, CGS, CN, CY, MN, MZ prefixes.
FUZZFACED — Chinese and Indonesian Stratocasters Reference

Deep-dive reference covering the Squier Chinese/Indonesian factory prefixes and their history.

Every format rule on this page traces back to at least one of the sources above. If you spot an error or have an additional authoritative source, see the methodology.